Manufacturing

Interface works with manufacturers and equipment makers by supplying high-performance measurement solutions, including top of the line load cells, torque transducers and instrumentation.

Manufacturing Overview

Manufacturers use Interface products to improve their products and processes, meet safety requirements, automate machines, and test new designs. Force measurement products are versatile and valuable tools for manufacturers in both product design and the actual manufacturing of the products. Our sensor solutions improve the quality, safety, and efficiency of products and the equipment and tools used to make them.

Interface Products Used in the Manufacturing

Interface products are commonplace in manufacturing and production. Force measurement is integral to advanced manufacturing systems, production lines, packaging, and product testing. Interface sensors are utilized in testing and monitoring various machines, from presses to lifting equipment, to ensure accuracy and repeatability throughout the production line.

We understand manufacturing test and measurement applications, from using miniature load cells to apply the force needed to press a brand identity onto fragile consumables to using multi-axis sensors to verify performance data when making intricately machined parts. Interface custom OEM solutions are ideal for manufacturers who require direct installation to monitor weight, force, and torque.

Manufacturing equipment and processes that utilize Interface load cells and torque transducers:

How measurement solutions are used in the manufacturing of products:

R&D: The measurement data from transducers is available for improving the design of products and processes and developing new products. 
Testing: Every product undergoes rigorous testing before hitting the line. Interface products are essential for this phase of manufacturing to validate the use, lifecycle, and materials.
Quality: Interface products are used to measure the weight of manufactured products to ensure that they meet specifications. This is important for consumer goods, pharmaceuticals, medical devices, and other products where precise weight measurement is critical for safety and effectiveness.
Automation: Force measurement products are valuable in automation. As robotics, cobots, tools, and machinery are designed to automate tasks and processes in manufacturing, load cells like our multi-axis sensors provide valuable analysis data through all phases of automation.
Safety and Regulation: Sensors prevent accidents by detecting dangerous conditions in the manufacturing industry. Using measurement systems for alarms, alerts, and monitoring of equipment and tools is critical in manufacturing plants.
Process control: Manufacturing operations monitor the force or weight of materials in a facility to control the process and ensure that products are made to the correct specifications.
Productivity and Equipment Maintenance: Using Interface products to monitor the condition of equipment and detect potential problems before they cause downtime helps to prevent costly breakdowns and production delays.

Our depth of force measurement expertise and experience enable us to innovate, engineer, and produce the world’s most accurate, reliable, and quality sensor technology for manufacturers worldwide.

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Textiles

Textiles are cloth or woven fabrics created through weaving, knitting, crocheting, or felting natural or synthetic fiber. In the manufacturing industry, different machines spin fibers into yarns and other woven textiles, including clothing, household linens, upholstery, and other materials used in various industries.

By providing quantitative data on the mechanical properties of yarns and fabrics, force measurement solutions contribute to improved product quality, optimized production processes, and innovative applications in smart textiles and wearable technology.

Interface load cells and instrumentation are used in several machines at various stages of textile production. From maintaining consistent tension in yarn to weighing fabric rolls and yarn packages, force measurement solutions are essential for quality control and efficient production. Interface products used by textile machine makers, engineers, lab technicians and product designers include:

LowProfile Load Cells can also be used in textile testing machines that measure tear strength testing to evaluate the strength. Load cells measure the tensile strength, tear resistance, and elongation of yarns and fabrics, providing vital data for quality control and material selection.

Force measurement is frequently used to monitor textile equipment performance. Interface load pin load cells can be installed directly into textile machines and retrofitting machines to monitor specific forces in real-time. In textile manufacturing, force sensors are valuable for identifying machine misalignments. Our load cells, combined with instrumentation, can help monitor textile machines, avoiding unnecessary repairs and disruption in production.

Textile Applications Using Interface Products:

Universal Test Machines for Textiles
Fabric Tear and Tensile Testing
Ring Spinning Frames
Textile Machine Maintenance And Calibration
Yarn Tension Monitoring
Stenter Equipment
Tumbler Dryers
Presses
Fabric Winding and Unwinding Processes
Assessing Machine Performance During Operations
Weaving Machines and Looms Design and Use
Industrial Sewing Machine Automation And Feedback
Knitting Machine Tension Testing
Cloth Cutting Machine Measurement
Abrasion Resistance of Fabrics
Monitoring Tension during Weaving, Knitting, And Finishing

Load cells monitor the tension of fibers during the drawing process, ensuring consistent fiber diameter and yarn quality. Load cells on the drafting system and traveler path track yarn tension, preventing breakage and ensuring uniformity. Load cell data provides valuable insights into machine performance and fabric properties, facilitating process optimization and product development.

Using Interface products for textile equipment, research, testing, and production provides precise control, optimizes production processes, and enhances product quality. Force measurement is a valuable tool for textile manufacturers striving for efficiency, consistency, and continuous improvement.

The textile industry involves complex manufacturing processes, from spinning and weaving to finishing and dyeing, resulting in many products that meet functional and aesthetic needs. Textiles are integral to our everyday lives, whether it’s the comfort of clothing, technical textile functionality, or fashion’s artistic expression through modern textile inventions.

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Production Lines

Production lines are the backbone of modern manufacturing, facilitating the efficient assembly of products. Consistency and maintaining precision while conducting thorough inspections stand out as paramount elements for creating top-tier products. Sensor data is vital in optimizing the production line.

Interface’s measurement solutions provide accurate data on production parameters such as temperature, speed, pressure, force, and other relevant variables. These can then be used to optimize the production process, detect and resolve problems in real-time, and prevent downtime. Additionally, Interface sensors can be integrated into industrial IoT systems and automation machinery to provide valuable insights and analytics to help manufacturers make data-driven decisions.

One of the main sensor types that play a role in these automated production lines is force sensors. Production line engineers use Interface force sensors to design and develop systems to ensure accuracy in measurements of force, weight, compression, and torque as products and components move throughout the line, including distribution.

How Interface Sensor Technologies are Utilized on Production Lines

Interface’s Force sensors are tools in manufacturing production lines, helping manufacturers ensure product quality, safety, and efficiency. They enable precise control, real-time feedback, and automation, all of which contribute to streamlined manufacturing processes and the delivery of high-quality products to consumers.

Industrial Machinery

Industrial machinery is used across many industries, and is classified as technology, tools and equipment commonly utilized in manufacturing, handling, and construction. These machines include straightforward tools to complex robotics and systems.

The machines require extensive testing in design and for performance monitoring. Interface products are found in heavy machinery used in commercial and industrial sites. These machines are engineered to tolerate heavy use. Force sensors from Interface are designed into robots to allow for more precise and delicate tasks. Load cells in machine tools help to prevent damage to tools and workpieces by monitoring cutting forces. Interface’s force sensors empower industrial machinery in all industries the ability to monitor, regulate, and assure safety in production processes.

Industrial Machinery Types Utilizing Sensor Technologies

Interface load cells, torque transducers, multi-axis sensors, load shackles and instrumentation provide industrial engineers and manufacturers high quality data that monitors and confirms the design and in-action processes of their equipment. The accuracy of these devices is critical to high-quality outcomes, low-costs and most importantly, worker safety.

From manufacturing to assembly, Interface’s force sensors are frequently integrated into the machines to measure and monitor the forces exerted during different operations. They are used in testing equipment and labs, as well as R&D facilities that are retrofitting machinery to manage automated tasks.

Retrofitting Factories

With AI and automation technologies influencing manufacturing factories, the estimated 21 million manufacturing companies worldwide are beginning to adjust and advance their manufacturing processes. There are various types of manufacturing, from repetitive, continuous, batch, job shop, and discrete. All employ tools, machines, and equipment used through multiple processes that rely on accurate sensor data and technologies.

Retrofitting factories is a strategic approach to modernize and enhance existing production facilities. This involves installing new equipment, upgrading technology, redesigning layouts, and implementing new processes to make the factory more modern and competitive.

Factory equipment, systems, and processes upgrades are needed to improve efficiency, productivity, safety, and sustainability. Force measurement solutions are a cost-effective and efficient way to modernize older machinery and gain a competitive edge in the industry, increase production, improve quality, and decrease costly downtime and maintenance.

Interface’s sensor technologies, including our load cells and multi-axis sensors, provide critical data for various machinery designs and functions. Interface analog and digital instrumentation products are available to amplify, condition, and display the signals from force measurement sensors.

Manufacturers require modern tools and equipment to meet growing demands. Interface products are used to retrofit machines and update tools with sensor-based technologies. Integrating load cell data with control systems enables the implementation of tasks based on specific force thresholds. This can automate actions like triggering material feed, stopping processes upon reaching desired force levels or sorting parts based on weight or pressure applied.

Load Pin Load Cells are versatile tools for measuring tension or compression forces in various applications. Retrofitting existing equipment with load pins can unlock valuable insights into machine performance, optimize processes, and prevent costly breakdowns.

How load cells are used in retrofitting factories:

Retrofitting manufacturing equipment with load cells offers a cost-effective way to modernize existing infrastructure, improve process control, enhance quality, and gain valuable data for informed decision-making.

Workplace Safety and Automation

Interface measurement solutions, known for quality and accuracy, are at the forefront of all safety and regulation testing decisions.

In manufacturing, our load cells and torque transducers are integrated into machines and operating systems to ensure that equipment operates within safe operational limits. The sensor data enables automation functionality to help reduce risk and prevent accidents or injuries.

Production equipment makers and machine builders must adhere to workplace safety and comply with regulations. Safety systems are pervasive in manufacturing, whether building cobots to work on the production line or designing and testing equipment to move packages in a warehouse. Using accurate measurement is quintessential to workplace safety and automation.

Safety and Automation Applications Using Interface Sensors and Instrumentation

Interface application engineers work closely with our customers to ensure they have suitable sensors, instrumentation, DAQ systems, and accessories for each use case. We can build complete systems, such as lock-out boxes with sensor technologies and alarms. We also offer engineering services to customize a load cell for OEM and integrated solutions.

Benefits of Using Sensor Technologies for Workplace Safety and Automation

Precision and Accuracy: Load cells and torque transducers provide highly accurate measurements of force and rotation, respectively. This allows for precise control of automated machinery, ensuring consistent product quality and reducing errors. Less rework and higher-quality products contribute to a safer work environment, as there’s less chance of operators needing to fix mistakes or handle malfunctioning equipment.

Process Optimization: Manufacturers can gain valuable insights into their machines’ operations by precisely measuring forces and torques. This data can be used to optimize processes, identify inefficiencies, and reduce waste. Optimized processes with smoother operation result in fewer chances of equipment malfunction and potential safety hazards.

Safety Measures: Interface sensor devices can be designed into automated machines, tools, and equipment to measure safety during use. For example, our transducers can detect overloads or excessive torque, which could lead to equipment failure and injure workers. These sensors help prevent accidents and create a safer work environment by triggering alarms or automatic shutdowns.

Quality Control: Accurate measurement of forces and torques allows for real-time product quality monitoring. This enables manufacturers to identify and address any deviations from specifications early in production, reducing the risk of defective products reaching the customer. Fewer defective products mean less chance of needing rework or repairs later, keeping workers out of harm’s way.

Load cells and torque transducers come in various designs and capacities, making them suitable for multiple automation applications. This versatility allows manufacturers to integrate them into different machines and processes, enhancing overall safety and efficiency across their production lines.

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Interface Products used in Manufacturing

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PBLC2 Pillow Block Load Bearing Load Cell

6ADF Series 6-Axis DIN Flange-Type Load Cells

2400 Standard Stainless Steel High Capacity Universal Load Cell

WMC Sealed Stainless Steel Miniature Load Cell

ConvexBT Load Button Load Cell

SMTM Micro S-Type Load Cell

BX8-HD44 BlueDAQ Series Data Acquisition System for Multi-Axis Sensors with Lab Enclosure

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